Forever and Always (6 page)

“A couple of
month’s
maybe” she answered, giving him a sideways glance.
He was still watching her and a small smile danced on his lips when he saw her looking at him. Her heart started beating faster in her chest. Why was he here beside her, asking all these questions and why did he have to be so damn hot. “I guess for the rest of the summer”.

“Great” he said sounding genuinely pleased. “Maybe I could show you around the place”.

“Thanks” she said smiling shyly at him. “But I really don’t want to put you to any trouble”.

“It would be no trouble at all” he replied and smiled. “In fact it would be my pleasure”.

“Ok then, that would be great then” Melanie replied softly. She felt like pinching herself to make sure this was actually happening.

“Ok so I should go” he says standing up and brushing the sand from his butt. “How about I call around about half ten and we can head out?”

“Today?”
Melanie asked her voice probably an octave or two higher than it should have been.

“Yeah” he said standing over her.
“Unless you have other plans”.

“No, today will be fine” she replied as she slipped on her sandals and began to stand up. He reached out his hand to help her up. When she took his hand he pulled her to her feet so fast she almost lost her balance. He quickly grabbed her in his arms and held her till she found her feet. But even then he didn’t let her go. He held her to him closely. His body felt firm and strong under his white t-shirt. She could feel his breath on her face. And his piercing eyes were locked with hers.

She wanted him to kiss her with every ounce of her being. She had never wanted anything more. She stared into his eyes and her head began to spin. He smiled warmly at her

“Breathe Melanie” he whispers softly. She hadn’t realise she was holding her breath. Slowly he released her. Her face flushed once more and she quickly pulled away from his hold.

“Ten thirty then” she said finally. Then without saying another word she turned and walked back to the beach house. She could feel his eyes on her as she walked but she didn’t turn around until she reached the deck of the house. When she looked back he was still standing in the same spot. He lifted his hand and gave her a wave and a bright smile. She waved back and the turned and walked in the house and closed the door.

“Maggie” she called as she slumped against the door. Her heart racing so face she thought it might burst through her chest. “I need your help”.

Maggie was almost ready to burst with excitement by the time half ten arrived. She had chosen about a dozen different outfits for Melanie to wear. She fussed with her hair and tried to do her makeup but Melanie drew the line there. 

When Melanie was ready, Maggie paced up and down the living room waiting for Sam to arrive. She was making Melanie even more nervous
than
she was already.

“Maggie you do know this isn’t a date” Melanie said as she nervously smoothed down her dress for the hundred time. She had finally decided on a cream halter neck dress that had a pretty, full skirt. She had a chocolate coloured belt around her waist and wore matching Chocolate coloured strappy sandals. She left her hair down in dark curls draped over her shoulder.  “I mean he is just being nice showing me around”.

“Yeah I know” Maggie replied but gave Melanie a mischievous smile. “But who knows, right”.

A sudden knock on the door made them both jump. Immediately Melanie felt herself blush.

“Yeah this isn’t a date at all” Maggie said sarcastically and gave her a knowing grin as she went to answer the door.

“Hi” Sam said nervously. “I am here so see Melanie”.

“You must be Sam” Maggie replied as she gestured for him to come into the house. He stepped
through
the door and his eyes met Melanie’s. Gone is the confident guy that sat next to her on the beach two hours early. He smiled shyly at her his eye ran all over her body as if he was seeing her for the very first time.

“Hi” he said softly, his eyes finally settling on hers. He was wearing dark jeans and a crisp white t-shirt. His hair was still a little damp from the shower and he looked even more gorgeous then Melanie had remembered.

“Hey” Melanie replied shifting uncertainly on from one foot to the other, her fingers knotted together at her waist.

Maggie watched him closely. He was really good looking but she was a little worried that he might be a little too old for Melanie.

“So um...exactly how old are you Sam?” Maggie asked suddenly sounding all mother hen.  Melanie shot her a look of complete disbelief. She could have murdered her. Sam’s face turned bright red.

“Maggie” Melanie snapped, a nervous giggle escaping from her.

“I am 21” Sam said quickly. “I will be 22 in December. I know I look older, everyone tells me that”.

“You know Melanie is only 17” Maggie replied.

“Maggie” Melanie said again, this time she was angry. “I am almost 18. Beside that is none of your business”.

“Sorry sweetie” Maggie said giving Melanie a sympathetic look. “But I promised your Mom and Dad I would look after you. So I had to ask”.

“Could this be any more embarrassing” Melanie replied mortified. She grabbed her bag and headed for the door. “I will see you later”. Sam smiled nervously at Maggie and followed Melanie out the door.

He took her hand and led her down the side passage of the beach house to where his car was parked in front of his parent beach house. He held the car door opened and waited for Melanie to climb inside. The car was amazing. It was a pearl black Porsche Boxster with cream interior. It was gorgeous.

“I am sorry about that” Melanie says as Sam slid into the car next to her. “Maggie is great but tact is something she lacks”.

“
It’s
fine” he replied with his usual dazzling smile. “You look beautiful, by the way”.

Melanie could feel her face heat with embarrassment. No one had ever said anything like that to her before.

He started the engine and slowly reversed the car out of the
parking space. Then he accelerated forward so fast Melanie was
shot backwards into her seat. As they drove with the top down, her hair was
blown everywhere and she wished
to herself she had tied her hair back.

Ten minutes later they pull up into a parking space in the
centre of town and Sam switched
off the engine. Melanie tried desperately to smooth down her hair with her fingers.

“Don’t worry Me
lanie” he reached over and took
her hand,
lifting it to his lips he kissed
it softly on the back. “You still look beautiful”. Melanie’s heart nearly stopped.

He climbed out of the car and hurried around Melanie’s side to open her door. Melanie stepped out and Sam immediately reached for her hand. They walked down through the town and he pointed out all the best shops and restaurant
s
. He insisted on buying her a beautiful cream coloured chiffon scarf for her to wrap around her hair while they were in his car.

She felt totally comfortable with him. He was funny and charming and so much fun to be with. Melanie never wanted the day to end.

At lunch time he brought her into his favourite little Italian restaurant. The girl behind the counter greeted Sam warmly when they walked in. Then she shot Melanie a questioning look.

“Rachel, this is Melanie O’Leary” he said answering the girl’s unasked question. “Melanie this is Rachel Brooks. Rachel and I spent nearly every summer together when we were kids. There were a whole gang of us
who
used to hang out every day. Don’t see much of them anymore though”.

“That’s true” Rachel said with a sad smile. “It must be three summers since now you were last down here. Not since the summer before your senior year.  Suddenly you just stopped coming around. Heard you had something more important keeping you busy”.

“Yeah well things change Rach” Sam replied shortly, suddenly looking a little uncomfortable with the conversation. Melanie’s looked at Rachel who smiled brightly at her and seemed almost embarrassed.

A man appeared at their side and ushered them to a quiet table at the back of the restaurant. Sam introduced Melanie to the man who showed them to their table as they took their seats. His name was Joe. He took Melanie’s hand and kissed the back of it and smiled broadly at her then he turned to Sam and told him he should hang on to such a beautiful young lady.

The table was set for two and was covered in a snow white table cloth and in the centre the was a small candle flickering bright even though the effect was lost a little because it was still daylight out. Never the less the atmosphere was romantic and comfortable.  Well it should have been but for some reason Sam had become suddenly quiet and Melanie felt a little uneasy.

“I am sorry about Rachel” he said once they had ordered their food. “The down side to a small town is everyone knows your business”.

“I guess so” Melanie replied not completely sure what Sam was really apologising for.

They chatted all the way through lunch and as time passed, Sam became more relaxed again. Melanie discovered that Sam was actually from New York. His Mom was a doctor and his Dad was the CEO of a large multinational company. His brother Andrew, who was six years older than him was a lawyer and lived in San Francisco. His parents were currently in the Far East. His Dad had some business out there and they decided to make a holiday of it. Sam had just finished Pre Med in collage and was due to start at Harvard in September.

Melanie felt a little overwhelmed. Sam was obviously from a wealthy family and was also extremely clever. She was just plain old Melanie O’ Reilly from Swords in Dublin. Yeah her dad was a solicitor but he wasn’t some high flying Lawyer from a posh Law firm in San Francisco. Suddenly she felt so out of her depth.

She had lost her appetite. So as Alex sat happily chatting away, she just picked at her food and listen to him quietly.

After he paid the bill, he took Melanie’s hand and led her back out onto the street.

“Are you ok” He asked as they walked back towards his car. “You have gone very quiet”.

“I’m fine” she replied staring down at the ground. He stops abruptly and pulls her in front of him and slides his arms around her

“I know how girls work Melanie” he said staring deeply into her eyes. “And when a girl says she is “fine” well that is never a good thing. I want you to talk to me. You know you can tell me anything. Please don’t shut me out already. Give me a chance”. Then he leans forward and kisses her softly on the lips.

Melanie’s head spun. It was soft and gentle but it was perfect. He pulled back slowly and smiled. Then still holding her hand he started back towards his car.

“Come on I want to show you something” he said as she followed him closely. She knew right then she would follow him anywhere.

When they reached the car he pulled the scarf he bought her from its bag and carefully wraps it around her. “You are beautiful Melanie, you know that right”.

“How is this happening to me?” Melanie thought to herself. “This doesn’t happen to 17 year old girls from Dublin. This happens to pretty blonde girls that live in Beverly Hills”.  Melanie’s head felt dizzy. Sam once again opened the door for her to climb in. Then closed it and hurried around to his side. A couple of minutes later they were driving out of town in the other direction. Melanie glanced over at Sam and he quickly sho
t
her a look and
smiled
brightly at her. God he was gorgeous.

Ten minutes later they pulled off the main road and down a little sandy side road. After a minute or two they pulled to a stop. Sam jumped out of the car and hurried around to open Melanie’s door and took her hand as she stepped out of the car. Their bodies were so close together they were almost touching. Sam traces across his finger across Melanie lower lip and he smiles at her. “Come on” he whispers.

Still holding her hand he le
d
her down a small path way between the high grass and reeds that covered the small hills in front of them. The path
opened
out onto the most beautiful beach Melanie had ever seen. The sand was pure white. The sea was the clearest greenie blue and they were the only two people on it. It was like there was no one else but them in the world.

“Wow” Melanie said as she stared out over the water she could see a little light house in the distances. “Sam this is amazing”.

“When I was younger and I needed some time to myself, I would come down here on my bike. Not very many people come down here so usually I had it all to myself”.

“It is really quite beautiful” Melanie said turning back to Sam. Suddenly she felt shy.

“I want to share this place with you” he said stepping closer to her. “Because as beautiful as it is here, it is nothing compare to how beautiful you are”.

“Oh” was all Melanie could whisper.

“Yes oh” Sam replied as he slowly pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Softly at first but then his kiss deepened. She opened her mouth slightly as she released a soft moan into his mouth. He slipped his tongue into her mouth and searched it, his tongue caressing hers, filling her with a deep hunger in the pit of her stomach. A feeling she had never felt before.